Ronald Aldon Hicks

Born on August 4, 1967, in Harvey, Illinois, Ronald Hicks grew up in South Holland, Illinois. He was attending St. Jude the Apostle School in South Holland, Illinois when he started considering the priesthood. Hicks later attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary South in Chicago. After graduation, Hicks spent a year volunteering for the organization Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (Our Little Brothers) at one of their orphanages in Mexico.[1] Hicks earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Loyola University Chicago and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois.[2]

Hicks was ordained a priest by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin for the Archdiocese of Chicago on May 21, 1994. His first posting after ordination was as an associate pastor at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Aurora, Illinois, for two years. He then served at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Orland Hills, Illinois, for three years. In 1999, Hicks was appointed as dean of formation at St. Joseph College Seminary in Chicago.[1]

In 2005, Hicks moved to El Salvador to serve as regional director for Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos facilities in Latin America. After five years there, Hicks returned to Illinois to become dean of formation at Mundelein Seminary. On January 1, 2015, then Archbishop Blase J. Cupich appointed Hicks vicar general for the archdiocese.[1]

On July 3, 2018, Pope Francis appointed Hicks as titular bishop of Munatiana and auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Chicago.[3][4] On September 17, 2018, Hicks was consecrated by Cardinal Cupich, with Bishop Francis J. Kane and Bishop George J. Rassas serving as co-consecrators.[5]

On July 17, 2020, Pope Francis named Hicks as the bishop of the Diocese of Joliet.[6][7] He was installed in the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet on September 29, 2020; the congregation was limited to 20% of capacity because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]